Some Nigerians in South Africa have cried out
against the xenophobic attacks on Africans in parts of the country.
In separate telephone interviews, the Nigerian
migrants expressed their fear of attacks as death threats were being circulated
on social media.
Itunu Bodunrin, who on Monday had attended his
master’s degree graduation ceremony at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban,
told our correspondent that he was unable to leave the school campus afterwards
due to the violence in the town.
Bodunrin forwarded a text message to our
correspondent which, according to him, had been circulated among South African
residents via an instant messaging mobile application, WhatsApp.
In the message, signed by several groups,
including the Patriotic Movement, Pan Local Forum, Unemployed Workers Forum and
Anti-Crime Movement, Nigerians and other African foreigners were warned to
leave the country.
It read in part, “Dear neighbour from Africa and
other parts of the world, we have travelled the world and have not found one
country that allows the floods of humans across its borders as South Africa is
experiencing. Even in war-torn parts like Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and Somali.
“We were seven million people in Johannesburg
city in 2011. Today, we have an estimated 13 million. In Johannesburg alone,
you have taken over entire suburbs: Yeoville, Berea, Bez Valley, Turfontein,
among many. You have even moved into rural parts of our country that have
80-per-cent unemployment, and there are no visible signs that you have jobs
either.
“We want to be proudly part of the geographic
construct called Africa, but we are as different from one another as Kenyans
are from Nigerians; Ivorians from Chadians, etc.
“We are pleading with you to return to your home
countries. Go and build up those countries so that we can all live in economic,
social and political prosperity and peace as neighbours. The genocide in this
corner of Africa will be far worse than what happened in Rwanda in 1994. Then
the entire continent will be condemned to ashes. Is that what you want?
“South Africans not fully employed or who were
found guilty of crimes, were recently repatriated from Nigeria and rightly so.
“Our people are preparing for war against all
foreigners (from Bulgaria, Pakistan and Bangladesh to Africa, north of the
Limpopo) and we are all very scared. Please go home and build Africa. Millions
will die if you don’t. This we can guarantee.”
Similarly, Samson Ojako, a master’s degree
student studying Mathematics also at the University of KwaZulu-Natal noted that
looting had been rampant for over a week.
“Those that opened their shops were attacked by
the Zulu. During all of this, those of us on campus were warned by the school
management to stay indoors. They said no one should leave the school premises,
especially during the weekend.”
Ojako noted that a large number of Zulus often
migrated from their villages into town on weekends in order to launch attacks
on non-nationals.
He likened the last one week to life in a refugee
camp, saying that those living on campus could not go out to shop for food.
“A lot of people are living in fear, especially
the ladies. Even for us who are guys, last week, we had to move in groups,” he
said.
Olawale Olawepo, another Nigerian studying for a
doctorate degree in Industrial Organisation and Labour Studies said the school
authorities also warned students against taking public transportation.
Sunday Punch
South Africans after our lives , Nigerians raise the alarm
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Rating:
No comments: